Cleaner



July 26, 1932.

A. O. ENGBERG ET AL CLEANER Filed Dec. 29, 1927 v rows 104 place to be cleaned. y

One object of our invention is to lncrease Patented .hay 4ze, 1932 1 UNITED fsTATEs--PATENT OFFICE AXEL onor` ENGBERG AND 'roma Een: DANIEL Brunn, or s'rocimomr, SWEDEN, As-

SIGNOR-S, BY IESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO ELECTROLUX CORPORATION, A COBPORA TION OF DELAWARE CLEANER Y Application*v led December 29, 1927,'S'erial No. 243,423, andv in Germany December 29, 1928.

Our invention relates to cleaners of the type wherein a current of air is used. More particularly our invention relates to cleaners of the typegenerally known as vacuum cleaners. Our cleaner is, however, not only a.

lvacuum cleaner, that is one which induces the airconta'ining the dust and dirt, but is also a blower by meansvof which a forced current of air can be projected against a the efficiency of the cleaner by means of converting the rotary motion of the airpleaving the fan into axial motion and at the same time convert the energy of velocity of the air into energy in the form of pressure. Other objects of our invention are to provide a.

,neat,vcompact, easily portablecleaner, easy to manipulate and yet powerful in clearing effect.

Further objects and the lnature of our invention will be apparent as the description proceeds. The description is of one preferred form, but itis to be understood that 25 it is not intended that the' invention is limited to the form described. y

Referring to the accompanying drawing which illustrates the preferred form of our cleaner: y Fig. 1 is an elevational view, substantially entirely in cross-section, of a bodiment of our invention and 1s taken on the line 1-1 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 2 is -an end view of the device shown in Fig. 1;

3 is an elevational view, partially in cross-section, taken on the line 3.-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an elevational view of a portion of the device shown in cross-section in Fig. 1; and d Fig. 5 is a cross-,sectional view of a modified form of inlet opening construction.

The cleaner comprises a casing, in'turn comprising a main cylindrical barrelv 10 consisting of stiff material such as thin sheet metal surrounded by fibrous or' leather composition having attached thereto at one end a metal bell or cover 11, and, at the other end, a housing 12, manufactured of metal or any stiff insulating material. Housing 12 conreferred. emf

tains an* electric motor 13and a centrifugal fan 14. Forward of housing 12, that is in direction towards cover-11, is a dust bag 15. The forward end of the dust bag consists of aflanged and backwardly bent metal ring 16 which retains a rubber packing 17. The forward flange of ring 16 and the rubber packing 17 are clamped between flange 18.`

shaft 25 and carries curved guide vanes 26.

The diaphragm 22 with its backwardly bent edge acts to convert the velocity'energy of' the air leaving the fan into pressure. The air leaving the` fan has obtained a rotary ino-- tlon by the revolution of the fan but is caught by the 'guide vanes 26 which are suitablycurved and forced to continue in axial direction parallel to the axis of the cleaner .caslng. Mounted in casing 10- in front of fan 14 is at-ransverse diaphragm 80 provided with acentral aperture 81. There is thus provided a path for the flow of air through opening 81, radially between diaphragms 22v and and axially between the edge 24 of diaphragm 22 and casing 10. The ,trans-` verse chamber between diaphragme 22 and 80 may be termed a fan chamber. Vanes 26 are in the annular axial passageway between ed ge 24 and the casing andserve to cause axial flow of air leavingthe passageway inasmuch as their endsremote from the fan extend in an axial direction. As edge 24 is bent so as to form an angle of less than with the axis,vthe annular passageway increases in cross-sectional area toward the rear of the cleaner and away from the fan. This allows the velocity of the air to become less. The arrangements above described increase the efficiency of the cleaner ina high degree and l been difficult to protect the ball bearings carrying the motor shaft against undesirable o jects, especially chips from screw threads. In previously known cleaners the outer ring of the ball bearing was held in position and ressed against the bottom of the bearing liousingby means of a cover which was screwed on the bearing housin screw threads formed in the walls of the bearing housing and in the cover. (According to the present invention the outer ring 27 of the ball bearing 28 is held in position b means of the stuffing box 29 provided wit smooth outer surfaces. Stuffing box 29 is pressed against ring 27 by means of diaphragm 22, in its turn secured to the ball bearing housing 23 by means of screws 30. In order, under all circumstances, to prevent the inner ring 31 of ball bearing 28 from sliding on the shaft 25, ring 31 is pressed against the shoulder 32 of shaft 25 by means of bushing 33 which is held between ring 31, and hub 34 of the fan by nut 35, thus rotat ing with these members and with shaft 25. In order to prevent oil or grease from flowing out of bearing house 23 a labyrinth packing 36 is arranged between stuffing box 29 and bushing 33.

The rear end of shaft 25 is carried by ball bearing 37. Also this bearing i's protected against undesirable objects such as metal chips and the like and to this end the bearing housing 38 is provided with a cover 39 retained in place by frictional engagement with the housing 38. Cover 39 is provided with and held in position by a spring 40 and a set screw 41. By moving set screw 41 outwardly the pressure of spring 40 against the inner walls of housing 38 is 1ncreased.

It will be noted that the motor and fan are enclosed in one unitary structure, namely housing 12. On purpose of thus forming one unitary structure includingv the revolving parts is to obtain a unit which can be made separately from other parts of the cleaner and can be set up and inspected by itself. Furthermore, this arrangement permits making the remaining parts such as the main barrel of light material and is of advantage because if intransportation or at any other time the main barrel should become injured the unitary motor fan structure can be removed and a new barrel readily attached. In order that the motor fan unit may be readily detached from the barrel `it fis secured to the barrel by means of screws 42 which are accessible and removable from outside the main cleaner unit as a whole. A ring 43 is fastened to the rear end of the main barrel by means of rivets 44. The motor fan housing 12 is machined to fit within -ring 43 and the barrel.

' The handle 49 is formed as a revolver grip by means of Leeaeaa and preferably cast of any suitable metal. It may be secured to housing 12 in any desired manner.

Handle grip 49 is provided with a cover 56 of insulating material in one piece in order to protect the attendant from electric shocks. Cover 56 is ieleasable and may be pulled ofi. For this purpose cover 56 is made of any elastic material, preferably soft rubber. Cover 56 is provided with ribs 59 or the like in vorder to facilitate the removal of same and that the attendant may get a firm grasp.

The cover or bell 11 is connected with the tools, for example a suction nozzle, by means of a suction pipe or by any suitable flexible hose. In order to protect the attendant from electric shocks, the suction pipe or hose is connected with cover 11 by means of a conically shaped member 62 which is electrically insulated from the cleaner casing. Member 62 is preferably manufactured of metal in order to obtain the solidity necessary. Between member 62 and cover 11 two insulating pieces 63 and 64 are arranged. Piece 63 is shaped as a cone with same outer and inner angles as the angles of the conical bore 65 in cover 11 and outer cone 66 of member 62 respectively. Piece 64 is an annular disc of insulating material surrounding the rear end of member 62 and lying against sleeve 67 of cover 11. Pieces 63 and 64 are placed between member 62 and cover 11 as shown in Fig. 1 and the last mentioned parts are clamped together by means of upsetting the end 68 of member 62. A somewhat modified construction is shown in Fig. 5. Member 62 is secured to cover 11 by means of a flan edrng 69 screwed onto member 62 and forcing piece 64 against sleeve 67. In previously known cleaners the insulation was placed within the conical bore of the connection member and due to the great bending stresses occurring here the insulation often was spoiled. In the construction according to the invention, however, the bending stresses will have no influence upon the insulating pieces, because the conical end of the suction pipe or hose never will come in contact with the insulation itself. In order to further secure the connection between member 62 and the suction pipe or hose, the conical bore 70 of member 62 is provided with splral spring 71 surrounding the conically shaped end of the pipe or hose when engaged with member 62.

The blowing or exhaust opening 72 is arranged, as shown in Fig. 2, at the rear end of housing 12 adjacent to the handle 49 and in order to prevent the insertion of the fingers of the operator into the exhaust opening and manner the opening is adapted to receive a pipe member 74 is preferably so formed as -to be receivable by the suction-pipe or hose of the apparatus and thus to serve .as a'suction nozzle.v To this end the conically shaped portion 75 of pipe 74 is rounded off and is provided with raised portions 76 in order to effect a good suction operation, especially when cleaning upholstery and the like. Pi e member 74 provided with an inner cone 77 for the connection with the suction pipe or hose.' The blowing openin 72 and the pipe member 74 are preferably aterally inclined outwardl so that theair stream will notflow against the operator and thereby cause annoyance.

As shown in Figs. 1,'2, and 4,`the apparatus is provided with studs 7 8 on which the ap aratus is supported when connected with a exible hose or when not in use. The studs instead of being screwed or riveted-to. the apparatus casing as in normal manner are cast with the ring 43 surrounding housing 12 'and barrel 10.; Studs 78 thus serve as feet ad fastening member 48 of handle 49.

Obviously ldifferent arrangements of parts may be used and parts may be modified without departing from. the sphere or scope of the invention. Furthermore it is obvious that parts of .the novel-cleaner herein described may be used without use of remaining parts without departing from the scope of the invention. The invention is not to be,limited to the detailed description ofthe specification which has been drawn with a View of setting out one example completely to enable those skilled in the art to readily make and use the invention, but is to be limited merely by the state of the prior art and the scope of the ap nded claims.

Havlng thus described and ascertained the nature of our said invention, what we claim is 1. In a vacuum cleaner, a casing, a fan and motor housing, a ring connecting said holising to said casing, and feet integral with saldi-ing.v

2. In a vacuum cleaner, a cylindrical dasing having an inlet opening and an outlet opening, a first transverse diaphragm in said casing between the inlet opening and the outlet opening and having a central opening, a second transverse diaphragm between said first diaphragm and 'said outlet o ning forming a transverse fan chamber wi' said first diaphragm, said second diaphragm being spaced from said casing and forming with said casing an annular axial passageway, a centrifugal fan in said fan chamber for causing flow lof air radially outward through the fan chamber and thence throughf movement l to direct the said axial chamber, and vanes on said second diaphragm obliquely disposed in said axial passagewayfor altering the direction of flow of air to eliminate rotatiuopalj/Snfilovement 'of the air caused by the darli@ `dito Vdirect Athe air in axial direction.

I 3. In a. vacuum cleaner, a cylindrical cas-v ing having an inlet opening and an outlet opening, a first transverse diaphragm in said casing between the inlet opening and the outlet opening and havinga central opening, a second transversediaphragm between said first diaphragm and said outlet opening forming a transverse fan chamber with said `first diaphragm, said seconddiaphragm being spaced from said casin g and forming with said casing an annular axial passageway, a centrifugal fan in said fan chamber for causing flow' of air radially outward. through the fan chamber and thence 'through said axial chamber, and -vva-nes in said axial passageway obliquely ldisposed in the ath of flow of-air therein for altering't-he direction of ,flow of air to eliminate rotational n-ehe. air caused by the fan and 'r in axial direction. 4. In a vacuum cleaner, a cylindrical cas- Vinghaving an inlet opening-and an outlet opening, a first transverse diaphragm in said casing between the inlet opening and the outlet opening and having a central opening, a secondtransverse diaphragm between said first diaphragm and said outlet opening forming a transverse fan chamber with said first diaphragm, said second diaphragm beling spaced from said casing and forming with said casing an annular axial passageway,`a centrifugal fan 1in said fan chamber for causing flow of air radially outward through the fan chamber and thence through said axial chamber, and curved vanes in said eef als

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axial passageway obliquely disposed in the path of flow of air therein for altering the' direction of flow of air to eliminate rotational. -movement of air caused by the fan and to ,direct the air in axial direction, the end of each vane remote from the `fan extending in substantially axial direction.

5. In a vacuum cleaner, a lcylindrical casing having an inlet opening and an outlet openin a first transverse diaphragm in said casing let opening and having a central opening, a second transverse-diaphra between said first diaphragm and sai outlet openin forming a transverse fan chamber with sai first diaphragm, said second diaphragm being spaced from said casing and forming with said casing `an annular axial passage` wav, a centrifugal fan in said fan chamber for causing flow of air radially outward through the fanchamber and thence through said axial chamber,jand a plurality of curved vanes on said second diaphragm obliquely disposed in said axial passageway for altertween the inlet opening and the outing the direction of flow of air to eliminate rotational movement of air caused by the fan and to direct theair in axial direction, the end of each vane remote from the fan extending in substantially axial direction.

6. In a vacuum cleaner, a cylindrical casing having an inlet opening and an'outl'et openinga first transverse diaphragm 1n said easing tween the inlet opening and the outlet opening and having a central opening, a

second transverse diaphragm between said first diaphragm and said outlet opening forming a transverse fan chamber with said first diaphragm, said second diaphragm having an annular conical rim spaced from said casing and forming with said casing an annular axial passageway-of gradually increasing cross-sectional area, a centrifugal fan in said fan chamber for causing flow of air radially outward through the fan chamber and thence through said axial chamber, and vanes on said second diaphragm obliquel disposed in said axial passageway for a tering the direction of flow of air to eliminate rotational movement of the air caused by the fan and to direct the air in axial direction.

7. In a vacuum cleaner, a cylindrical easing having an inlet opening and an outlet opening, a first transverse diaphragm in said casing between the inlet opening and the outlet opening and having a central opening, a second transverse diaphragm between said first diaphragm and said outlet opening forming a transverse fan chamber with said first diaphragm, said second diaphragm aving an annular conical rim spaced from said casing and forming with said casing an annular axial passageway of gradually increasing cross-sectional'area, a centrifugal fan in said fan chamber for causing flow of air radially outward through the fan chamber and thence through said axial chamber, and vanes in said axial passageway obliquely disposed'- in the path of flow of air therein for altering the direction of flow of air to eliminate rotational movement of the air caused by the fan and to-direct the air in'axial direction.

8. In a vacuum cleaner, a cylindrical casing having an inlet opening and an outlet' opening, a first transverse diaphragmin said casing between the inlet opening and the outlet opening and having a central opening, a second transverse diaphragm between said first diaphragm and said outlet opening forming a transverse fan chamber with said first diaphragm, said second diaphragmhaving an annular conical rim spaced from said easing and forming with said casing an annular axial passageway ogradual1yincreasing cross-sectional area, a centrifugal fan in said fan chamber for causing flow of air radially outward through the fan chamber and thence through said axial chamber, and a plurality of curved vanes in said axial passageway obliquely disposed in the path of flow of air therein for altering the direction of flow of air to eliminate rotational movement of the air caused by the fan and to di.

4rect the air in axial direction, the end of each vane remote fromthe fan extending in substantially axial direction.

9. In a vacuum cleaner, a cylindrical casing having an inlet opening and an outlet opening,.a first transverse diaphragm in said casing between the inlet openingand the out let opening and having a central opening, a second transverse diaphragm between said first diaphragm and said -outletopening forming a transverse fan chamber with said first diaphragm, said second diaphragm having an. annular conical rim spaced from said -casing and forming with said casing an annular axial passageway of gradually increasing cross-sectional area, a centrifugal fan in said fan chamber for causing flow orf air radi-v ally outward through the fan chamber and thence through said axial chamber, and a plurality of curved vanes on said second diaphragm obliquely disposed in said axial passageway for altering the direction of flow of air to eliminate rotationalpmovernent of the air caused by the fan and to direct the air in axial direction, the end of each vane remote from the fan extending in substantially axial direction.

10. In a vacuum cleaner, a casing having an inlet opening and an outlet opening, a centrifugal fan in said casing for causin flow of air from said inlet opening to said outlet opening, a diaphragm between said fan and said outlet opening, said dia hragm being spaced from said c'asing and orming with said casing an annular passageway and vanes obliquely disposed on said diaphragm for directing the flow of air in axial direction towardv said outlet opening.

11. In a vacuum cleaner, a casing havingu an inlet opening and an outlet opening, a centrifugal fan in said easing for causing flow of air from said inlet opening to said outlet opening, a diaphragm between said fan and said casing an annular passageway for How 1 of air and curved vanes obliquelv disposed in said annular passageway in the path of flow of air therein for directing the flow of air in axial direction toward said outlet opening.

12. In a vacuum c1eaner, a casing having anL inlet opening and an outlet opening, a centrifugal fan in said easing for causin flow of air from said inlet openingto said out et opening, a diaphragm between said fan and said outlet opening, said dia hragm being s aced from said casing and Forming with sai casing an annular' passageway for flow of air and curved vanes obliquely disposed in said annular assageway in the ath of flow of air therein or directing the ow of air in axial direction-toward said outlet opening, the end 14 In avacunm cleaner, a casing having a e conical inlet opening therethrough, a cqnlca-l metallic member positioned in said inlet opening adapted to engagea suction member,

means on the inner end of said metallic member for retaining said metallic member in said inlet opening, an annular cone-shaped member of insulating material between said metallic member and the casing and an annu# i lar disc of insulating material between said retaining means and the casing.

15. In a vacuum cleaner, a caslng having an inlet opening andan outlet opening,a centrifu'galfan member 1,11 said casmg for causlng flow of air fromesaid inlet opening to said outlet opening, air flow directing means in said casing forming a partition between the fanmember and the outlet opening, said means being spaced from said casing and forming, with the casing, an annular passageway behind the fan member inthe' line of flow of air, and curved vanes obliquely disposed in-said annular passageway for directing How of air in .axial direction toward said outlet opening,.said vanes having their inlet edges axially displaced from the fanl member so as to be out of the region of radial flow of air leaving'the fan member.

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In testimony whereof we aix our signatures.

AXEL OLOFl ENGBERG. TORD ERIK DANIEL BILDE. 

